Sorting the Pathway Pebbles

I descended the exterior concrete steps to inspect the gravel path bordering the garden. Among the scattered gray stones, three smooth slate fragments sat tilted against a mossy paver, disrupting the flat grade. I knelt down and nudged each piece with my palm to test its weight. Sliding them into the shallow hollows between the larger rocks, I pressed downward until their flat surfaces aligned flush with the walkway plane. The ground settled firm and even beneath my feet.